Current Context: Scientists are closely monitoring the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano located approximately 300 miles off the Oregon coast, due to signs indicating a potential eruption—the first in a decade.

About Axial Seamount:

• Location: Situated on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a tectonic plate boundary in the Pacific Ocean.
• Geological Features: A shield volcano characterized by a large caldera and hydrothermal vent systems.
• Eruption History: Previously erupted in 1998, 2011, and 2015, making it the most active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific.
• Scientific Significance: Hosts the world’s first underwater volcanic observatory, NeMO, as part of the Ocean Observatories Initiative.

Current Context: Anthony Albanese secured a second consecutive term as Australia’s Prime Minister, leading the Labor Party to a significant victory in the federal elections. This marks the first time in two decades that an incumbent Australian PM has been re-elected.

• Election Outcome: The Labor Party won a decisive majority, with projections indicating up to 90 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives.
• Opposition Defeat: Conservative leader Peter Dutton lost his seat, reflecting a broader rejection of right-wing populist policies.

Current Context: In the Baipariguda block of Koraput district, Odisha, eight Gram Sabhas have harvested over 4 lakh bundles of kendu leaves, awaiting government notification to deregulate the trade.

About:

• Kendu Leaf: Also known as Tendu leaf in other parts of India, referred to as the “Green Gold of Odisha.”
• Primary Use: Used for rolling tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes) and has medicinal value.
• Key Producer States: Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
• Legal Recognition under FRA (2006):
  • The Forest Rights Act (FRA) recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling communities to collect, use, and sell minor forest produce (MFP) like kendu leaves.
  • The 2012 amendment empowers communities to process, store, transport, and sell MFP without paying royalties or seeking permission.
  • Transit permits must be issued by the Community Forest Rights Management Committee (CFRMC), not forest officials.

Celebrated annually on May 7, to promote athletics among youth and encourage active lifestyles.

• Established: Initiated in 1996 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), now known as World Athletics.
• Objective: To raise awareness about the importance of athletics and physical activity among young people.

Current Context:The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has successfully scaled Mount Makalu,the fifth highest peak in the world, marking a historic achievement for India’s Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).

About:

• Height: 8,485 meters (27,838 feet) above sea level.
• Location: Situated in the Mahalangur range of the Nepal Himalayas, straddling the border between Nepal and Tibet (China).
• Proximity to Everest: 23 km southeast of Mount Everest.
• Distinctive Features:
  • Known for its perfect pyramid shape with four sharp ridges.
  • Makalu I and Makalu II are the notable subsidiary peaks located 3 km north-northwest of the main summit.
  • The mountain lies within Makalu Barun National Park, home to the Barun Valley.
• Climbing Difficulty: Considered one of the most challenging eight-thousanders due to steep pitches, knife-edged ridges, and technical rock climbing.
• First Ascent: Achieved on May 15, 1955, by a French team led by Jean Franco.

ITBP Achievement: The ITBP team scaled the peak in April 2025, marking a milestone for CAPF.

Current Context: The Ramman Festival, listed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, was celebrated in the villages of Saloor-Dungra, Uttarakhand.

About Ramman Festival:

• Location: Twin villages of Saloor-Dungra in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.
• Timing: Celebrated annually in late April after the harvest.
• Deity Worshipped: Dedicated to Bhumiyal Devta, the village’s tutelary deity.
• Cultural Elements: Includes masked dances, epic recitations of Ramayana, and folk song performances.
• Unique Feature: Features Jagar singing, a ritual invocation of ancestral and local legends.

UNESCO Listing: Inscribed in 2009 as a living expression of Himalayan religious and cultural traditions.

Current Context: Karnataka Government notified Hesaraghatta Grassland as a Conservation Reserve under Section 36A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in early 2025.

About Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve:

• Location: Near Hesaraghatta Lake, Bengaluru; the last remaining grassland habitat in the region.
• Protection Status: Declared a Conservation Reserve, acting as a buffer zone under WPA 1972.
• Ecological Role: Supports biodiversity including leopards, Indian foxes, otters, and migratory birds.
• Hydrological Importance: Functions as a natural sponge for monsoon runoff and recharges groundwater.
• Governance: Managed by a state-appointed Conservation Reserve Management Committee.
• Coverage: Part of India’s 24% grassland biome; globally, grasslands span 20–40% of land area.

Current Context: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched Operation Hawk to crack down on international cybercrime networks involved in online child sexual exploitation.

About Operation Hawk:

• Objective: Targets individuals and syndicates involved in producing and sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
• Predecessors: Builds on Operation CARBON (2021) and Operation Megh Chakra (2022).
• Scope: Includes digital forensics, data analysis, and cross-border law enforcement cooperation.
• Reach: International in scale, supported by agencies like Interpol and Europol.

Current Context: The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) launched VoTAN to provide global support for victims and survivors of terrorism.

About Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN):

• Background: Emerged from the “Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism,” co-chaired by Spain and Iraq, established six years ago to promote victim rights.
• Origin: Key outcome of the 2022 UN Global Congress on Victims of Terrorism.
• Purpose: Offers a safe space for victims to share experiences, foster resilience, and act as peacebuilders, educators, and advocates.
• Funding: Financially supported by the Government of Spain.
• Coordination: Managed by the UNOCT with global collaboration.

Current Context: The Lakkundi temples in Karnataka are being proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list, recognizing their historical and architectural significance.

Key Facts:

• Location: Lakkundi, Gadag district, Karnataka.
• Historical Significance:
  • Known as “Lokki-Gundi” in ancient inscriptions.
  • Flourished under the Western Chalukyas, Kalachuris, Seunas (Yadavas), Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara rulers.
• Architectural Highlights:
  • Over 50 ancient temples and 101 stepped wells (Kalyanis).
  • Notable temples include Kasivisvesvara, Nannesvara, and Brahma Jinalaya.
  • Exhibits a blend of North and South Indian architectural styles .
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • State government has established the Lakkundi Heritage Area Protection Authority for conservation .